Special Units

Ohio Officer Critically Wounded in Standoff Released from Hospital

Amherst, OH, Officer Gene “JR” Ptacek was released from the hospital Tuesday. He was critically wounded during a SWAT standoff May 31. (Photo: Amherst PD)

After eight weeks of healing and rehabilitation, Amherst, OH, police Officer Gene “JR” Ptacek returned home to his family Tuesday.

Ptacek, a member of the Lorain County SWAT team, was shot during a standoff May 31 in Sheffield Lake. The SWAT team and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant, when the suspect reportedly barricaded himself in his home. The suspect was apprehended later that night, the Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Ptacek is a 17-year veteran of the department and has served on the countywide SWAT team for several years, according to a news release from Amherst police.

He was escorted from MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland to his home by the township’s emergency services vehicles, and residents were invited to show their support on the sidewalks along Cleveland Avenue from state Route 58 to the township town hall.

Special Units

This May, more than 7,500 service and working animals will receive free sight-saving eye exams in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. The annual ACVO/StokesRx National Service Animal Eye Exam event was created as a national platform to address eye health, which is critical for the safety of the animals and their handlers.

The Novato (CA) Police Department said on Facebook, "We would like to introduce K-9 Nova as the newest member of our department. Nova is a two year old Belgian Malinois who joined our force earlier this month."

The Baltimore (MD) Police Department posted a video to social media of its newest K-9s to join the department as they begin their 16 weeks of training at the police academy in the northwest section of Charm City.

Six people were arrested after a large fight broke out in Santa Ana early Sunday morning as bars were closing. One person reportedly struck a police horse named "Chex." Another horse, named "Willa," was also reportedly assaulted.